Rail jack



Feb. 14, 1939. J. c. FOREMAN RAIL JACK Filed July 25, 1958 (70%2 6 fzreirz aa BY myam a.

ATTO R N EYS Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to rail jacks for use in lifting track rails for installation of tie plates and track shims.

In the conventional method of installing tie plates on new ties using the ordinary jack, the jack has a tendency to lean forward and thus shove the track out of line. It also'raises the adjoining ties and permits ballast to work under these ties causing uneven surface of the track.

Again in the conventional track jack there is no means for stopping the elevation when the rail is being raised and the natural tendency is to raise the rail higher than is actually required. Furthermore the ordinary track jack becomes worn until it is no longer a safe tool after two or three weeks of constant use on account of accidental tripping.

With the above disadvantages of the ordinary rail jack in mind, the present invention has for an object to provide a rail jack which will rest entirely on one tie and this one tie and the adjoining ties can be shimmed or plated without disturbing the track surface and alignment.

A further object is to provide a rail jack and crow bar for use in connection therewith embodying a roller on the jack and a stop shoulder on the crow bar engageable with the roller to provide a limited lift of the rail and hold the rail raised until released by lifting the bar.

A further object is to provide a device of this character which will be formed of a few strong simple and durable parts, which will be inexpensive to manufacture and which will not easily get out of order.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a rail jack constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the rail jack and crow bar in applied position to lift a rail a predetermined distance from its tie.

Referring now to the drawing in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, the rail jack comprises a body ll] of heavy metal in the form of a U having a long arm II and a short arm l2. The

5 long arm is directed outwardly to form a horizontal lateral extension [3 and then downwardly perpendicular to the extension to form a tie engaging leg I4. Reinforcing webs l5 are formed on either side of the body filling the angle between the long vertical arm II and the 5 horizontal extension I3. The short leg I3 is directed downwardly and outwardly to form a tie engaging leg 9.

'In the webs are a pair of bearings l6 which receive the gudgeons ll of a roller l8 which is 10 disposed across a rectangular opening I9 formed in the long arm II for receiving a crow bar 20.

The underside of the crow bar is provided with a shoulder 2| which engages the roller, when the 15 bar is pressed downwardly in lifting a rail, to form a stop.

In operation the device is adapted to be placed on a railway tie 22, and. straddles the rail to be elevated. The bar 20 is inserted through the 20 opening IS with its sharp edge 23 engaged under the head of the rail 24. Thebar is then pressed downwardly, and with the roller as a fulcrum, lifts the rail until the roller is engaged by the shoulder 2| in the underside of the bar in which position of the parts, as best shown in Figure 2, the rail will be raised a predetermined distance above the tie and will remain in this position until released by lifting the crow bar.

The upper surface of the body I0 is provided with a handle 25 in the form of a loop.

From the above description it is thought that the construction and operation of the invention will be fully understood without further explanation.

What is claimed is:

1. A rail jack comprising an inverted U-shaped metal body adapted to straddle a rail and having a long and a short arm, a horizontal extension on the longer arm, a downwardly directed tie engaging extension integral with the horizontal extension, the short arm being directed outwardly, and downwardly at an angle to form a second tie engaging member, reinforcing webs formed on either side of the body filling the 5 angle between the vertical long arm of the horizontal extension, bearings carried by said webs, a roller mounted in said bearings, there being a rectangular opening formed in the long leg for receiving a bar formed with a. curved lower end 50 portion and having a sharp edge, the underside of the curved portion being provided with a shoulder adapted to engage the roller when the bar is pressed downwardly when lifting a rail to form a stop, and a handle in the form of a loop extending from the upper surface of the body.

2. A rail jack including an inverted U-shaped body adapted to straddle a rail to be lifted and having extensions adapted to engage a single tie on opposite sides of the rail, there being an opening in the body adapted tolimit elevation of the rail beyond a predetermined distance from the tie, a roller carried by the body below said opening, and a rail lifting bar adapted to be engaged through said opening and having a shoulder on the bottom surface adapted to engage said roller and form a stop.

3. A rail jack including a body of heavy metal in the form of an inverted U with relative long and short arms adapted to straddle a rail to be lifted, downwardly extending extensions on both arms adapted to engage the top surface of a tie on opposite sides of a rail to be lifted, there being an opening in one of said arms adapted to limit elevation of the rail beyond a predetermined distance from said tie, a roller carried by said arms below said opening, and a lifting bar adapted to be engaged through said opening and having a shoulder on the lower surface adapted to engage said roller and form a stop.

JOHN C. FOREMAN. 

